History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

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faith. 4th. Christian character or vital piety the true Scriptural test of fellowship or church membership. 5th. The right of private judgment and the liberty of conscience the privilege and duty of all." They hold an annual convention of a representative character, and at their last meeting claimed some two hundred societies under their union. The subject need not be pursued farther. Enough has been shown completely to vindicate O'Kelly and his followers from the aspersion of [11] heresy. He was as true to the Articles of Religion and doctrinal standards of Methodism as those who traduced him; and historians of that ilk should correct their records and sin no more against his memory. The final allusion of Stevens needs correction, "Though the schism lingered, it gradually died from this period," i.e. the period of 1801. It is fair to admit that he knew no better, though the same sources of information were open to him if he had sought for them. With Snethen it is believed to have been premature and ill-considered, and as a secession not to be justified in the circumstances; but its author died under a full persuasion of its necessity and rightfulness. "To the latest period of his life he retained unabated confidence in the purity and power of his system. In age and feebleness his hope in the work of his hands did not desert him. He went down to the grave, according to one of his followers, satisfied with the past, and peaceful and trustful with respect to the future." [12] A few facts and reflections remain in conclusion of this subject. Asbury relates in his Journal, under date of August 20, 1802, Winchester, Va. — "Mr. O'Kelly having been taken ill in town, I sent two of our brethren, Reed and Walls, to see him, by whom I signified that if he wished to see me I would wait upon him: he desired a visit, which I made him on Monday, August 23. We met in peace, asked of each other's welfare, talked of persons and things indifferently, prayed, and parted in peace. Not a word was said of the troubles of former times. Perhaps this is the last interview we shall have upon the earth." The interview is alike honorable to both. They went their ways again, Asbury to survive fourteen years and O'Kelly twenty-four. It is a sad fact that Stevens, after noting this exchange of Christian courtesies, should occupy a full page in moral reflections, in which he classes O'Kelly's proceedings in the same category with the sins and frailties of David, Judas, and Peter, concluding with the Scriptural admonition, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." It has been affirmed that the liberal lay features of the seceding Church had little, if anything, to do 'with the circumscription to its original boundaries and, at best, its stunted growth. Rev. W. C. [13] Lipscomb, an unimpeachable witness, testified that it failed of general adoption by the Methodists for want of proper disciplinary arrangements solely. In evidence of this statement he cites his [14] recollection of a conversation with Major Simon Sommers, who was contemporary with O'Kelly and a Methodist of that early day, and, though not identified with his societies, was personally acquainted with him and knew whereof he affirmed, a large society of Republican Methodists existing in the neighborhood of his plantation, "Sommerville," where he lived and died. His opinion in effect was that if O'Kelly had rejected only such parts of the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church as were deemed objectionable, and retained the remainder, he "would have swept the concern." And now, as offsetting Stevens' category of ecclesiastical sinners, the whole of this Asbury-O'Kelly contest may be crystallized in the language of Mr. Gladstone, ex-premier of England. In a recent article on "The Place of Heresy and Schism in the Modern Christian Church," speaking of the non-conformists and citing their service to both the Church and State, he observes, "There are civil cases when, though we may not be able to say the rebel is in the right, yet we can clearly see that the possessor of power, who drove him to be a rebel, is far more profoundly in the wrong." *************************************
ENDNOTES 1 It is a noteworthy fact that none of the Methodist historians makes the slightest allusion to this important revival of liberal principles. Asbury alone gives us a slight cue. He says: "At this Conference there was a stroke aimed at the President Eldership." See "Journal," Vol. II. p.319, edition of 1852. Incidentally from other sources it is ascertained that it was ably debated, but for the reasons assigned made no headway against Episcopal prerogatives now so impregnably entrenched and buttressed by this same Conference. 2 "Life and Times of Bishop McKendree." By Bishop Paine. Nashville, Tenn., 1880. 3 Guirey's Episcopacy," p. 380. Also Lee's History." 4 General Conference of 1796, Address to British Conference, in Stevens. 5 Yet he also minifies elsewhere the new Church. 6 Stevens says 1795, an error. See "History," Vol. III. p.355, edition of 1867. 7 "Letters from Heaven, Consulted." By James O'Kelly. Hillsborough, 1822. 8vo, 67 pp. Its literary ability is very fair. 8 Asbury in his "Journal," Vol. III. p.8, admits fully that Snethen's work was a mere compilation. He is in South Carolina, February 5, 1801: "I received the compilation of N. Snethen, intended as an answer to James O'Kelly: it is well done, and very correctly done, except in a few cases." Snethen could not restrain the expression of his liberal views even in the O'Kelly matter, much as he disapproved his secession at the time, and this is the significance of the remark, "except in a few cases." In the same paragraph, Asbury having just been over the ground traveled by him and Coke in 1791, and having probably heard some averments of his "cold" treatment of Coke when he arrived at Charleston, S.C., and was chagrined to discover that he was against the Council, and in favor of a General Conference, siding now with O'Kelly as was found, he thinks it advisable to enter a disclaimer at this late date, ten years after, as to his treatment of Coke by declaring: "There was no sharpness at all upon my side with Dr. Coke at Charleston respecting the proposed General Conference which was afterward held [1792]. I was fully convinced that nothing else would finish the unhappy business with O'Kelly, and that did finish it." But not on the original issues, which were the abolition of the Council and the call of a General Conference, points which were won by Coke and O'Kelly; but the issue that finished O'Kelly in the disastrous secession was a new one, that of an appeal for the preachers. Naturally Asbury puts the best face on it he can in this note. 9 Following in this the best obtainable data from Methodist historians, error is recorded as to the origin and time of this new appellation. Happily, recent reliable information gives the corrections and other interesting facts as to O'Kelly, and the denomination of Christians acknowledging him as their father. The writer has before him the centennial number of the Christian Sun, organ of this
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WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library M. E. Chu
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METHODIST REFORM Edward J. Drinkhou
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world over; as well as for contrast
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No pretension is made to literary s
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considered — The first missionary
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CHAPTER 19 1779-1781 — The "regul
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Was it mailed before or after he he
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the Methodist Societies, though thr
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The period from 1784 to 1792 will b
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ENDNOTES 1 Otherwise called the Pol
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His private Journal, which came int
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with the hope that, whenever such a
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ENDNOTES 1 Whitehead's "Life of the
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His father's health failing in 1734
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The period from 1739 to 1744 was a
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1 "Mutual Rights," Vol. 1. No. 21,
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places. Stevens says the third Conf
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were necessary for an enduring orga
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chapel seats. Breaking bread in the
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severely, but not unjustly. Preachi
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ut for the children, the boys only
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leadership of the most self-asserti
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deliverance from a "Methodist curat
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sit apart, which had been violated
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1 Tyerman's "Life,'' Vol. III. p. 1
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a deed of this kind, that I have go
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arguments, except as it relates to
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as, it was, no doubt, sincere. The
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ordained Henry Moore and Thomas Ran
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Church. Upon this the meeting was a
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society in Plymouth. He was a man,
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nothing else save the Arminian Maga
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no longer." He was seriously sick d
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eached 2828. The membership was 76,
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* See Appendix to Dr. Kewley's "Inq
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He said soon after, "I will get up,
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short, and the design itself was sp
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week of Wesley's death he wrote: "M
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stewards, the admission and expulsi
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wrote like a mountain torrent. Stro
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present purpose reads: "But when on
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y the calendar, must be used wherev
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presidency the Conference would not
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1 Asbury's " Journal," Vol. II. p.1
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HISTORY OF METHODIST REFORM Synopti
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Commentary is an imperishable monum
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parent bodies will the mission of t
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ENDNOTES 1 She was a Friend, but he
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constantly devising new plans for i
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urst out, and one Daniel Shubetham
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insulted the representatives of the
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courtesy due him, was thought too p
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like Wesley, betrayed his ignorance
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delicate woman, died and was buried
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1 "History of Methodism," Vol. III.
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The respective theories are working
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or usages which had been most assai
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the ministry, its devotion and libe
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It is necessary to retrace steps to
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to interfere with the internal affa
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showed, in feasting at high dinners
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ENDNOTE 1 The plan has since been a
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into evil ways. Barbara Heck kept a
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which was the vogue of a large numb
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attended the ministry of both, conv
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thing which I seek, a circulation o
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ENDNOTES 1 Bangs' "History of the M
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13 Atkinson's "Methodism in America
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Philadelphia, George Shadford (to c
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Lednum has preserved the name of Jo
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y Methodists as a constant prayerfu
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the episcopal form of church govern
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1784, and he had regular work. He r
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of our national independence, who b
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strength of Methodism was in Maryla
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1 Lee's "History," p.56. ENDNOTES 2
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and their children, and they procee
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to men whose opinions disagreed wit
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Why do the printed Minutes take no
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ENDNOTES 1 Stevens says, "During th
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of our divisions; it was transcribe
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Mr. Wesley generally held a Confere
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under the necessity of abiding by i
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the Methodists. At twenty years of
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HISTORY OF METHODIST REFORM Synopti
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His references to the Conference of
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landly said, 'He is hard on us.' As
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and good sense so far predominated
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on so new a plan, he afterward susp
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of it are in the closing suggestion
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employing the terms "superintendent
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to be a mere formality, likely to r
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If any one will point out a more ra
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monotony, the "Pastorals" of Virgil
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ace, Eclipse is first, and that put
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next day, Sabbath, he reached, with
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esumed his labors, and died in Phil
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[6] is the material point. There is
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emarkable when it is considered tha
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our societies in the United States,
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eady to break with Wesley at any op
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ENDNOTES 1 The reader is apprised t
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minutes as printed. To that portion
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steps taken by Mr. Wesley and mysel
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een involuntary, wrested by the ove
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6 Bangs' "History," Vol. I. pp. 165
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see Asbury open a Methodist meeting
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obliged to acknowledge that I acted
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intimates the desire they had of my
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under present circumstances, to gra
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ENDNOTES 1 Dr. Scudder, in his "Ame
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feet in length and 40 feet in bread
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The missionary propagandists must n
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interference was no doubt well know
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it ? Wesley, when he received the a
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9; at Holstein, May 13; at Amelia,
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will determine sufficient in a man
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crosses the mountains — "the firs
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The preachers having had great diff
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Eleven Conferences were appointed f
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But in one point, my dear brother,
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The letter itself now calls for ana
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continued to this day in the Method
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his testimony. Some writer during t
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it. Besides, even allowing that Cok
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1 "Life of Wesley," Vol. II. pp. 25
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segregation complained of, is inten
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Now cull from O'Kelly's "Apology" s
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In his pastoral relation he raised
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Council, is proving too much for ev
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Even so partisan a writer as Rev. D
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of his name in 1786, the fact that
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change of environment enables them
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Page 309 and 310: are men of very considerable abilit
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Page 315 and 316: In addition to these letters, the o
Page 317 and 318: It is noteworthy that neither Bangs
Page 319 and 320: 1 "Defense of the Truth," p.23. END
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Page 323 and 324: turning to Mr. Hutchinson, he said:
Page 325 and 326: obedience in one over another of hi
Page 327 and 328: Lee affirms that, during this event
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Page 349 and 350: which measures were taken to triply
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Page 363 and 364: 1 Lee's "History," pp. 194, 195. EN
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Page 369 and 370: of the general conference, and in t
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Page 377 and 378: until finally the illegality of it
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Page 381 and 382: interred under the altar of the Wes
Page 383 and 384: ENDNOTES 1 One was held at Cabbin C
Page 385 and 386: affirmed nor denied the truth of th
Page 387 and 388: 3. Each Annual Conference respectiv
Page 389 and 390: The smoke of the argumentative batt
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Page 393 and 394: views. Such apologies for his after
Page 395 and 396: ENDNOTES 1 Boehm says there was pre
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Eutaw Street church pulpit. On the
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disputed. It never has been called
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ENDNOTES 1 November 6, 1820, Kingst
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McCormick has written in a legible
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as a scandal upon Mr. Wesley, thoug
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and good man, and a bead-roll of ot
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liberal principles. To this Griffit
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and many others, and uniformly defe
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pioneers it may be said that in the
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argument against innovation. Tradit
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popular Episcopal Church of America
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to the joint authorship of the Circ
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apparently. Moore's denial was not
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y Ralph Spoor, London, etc., page 5
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Liverpool I observed that I should,
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command, when he told the elders no
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themselves to the ministry of the s
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church with true wisdom to combine
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Valentine Lucas, Alexander Clark, A
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General Conference of 1884 the Soci
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The report of the W. F. M. S. to th
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The General Conference of 1888 divi
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successful labors. The Board is reg
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While the various enterprises alrea
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scholars, 63; ordained native preac
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RESUME AND COMPARISON 1896 1897 GAI
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Art. 4th. As all men are essentiall
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Art. 10th. The government of every
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Art. 16th. Any government, that doe
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k. We want the right of peremptory
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